16:47
Make that an 11 lap race!
A fifth lap behind the Safety Car to reduce spray means the sprint race itself will be just 11 laps.
Alexander Albon (THA) Williams Racing FW45 and Logan Sargeant (USA)…
2023 F1 Belgian Grand Prix - Sprint Race - as it happened
Max Verstappen overtook the impressive Oscar Piastri in a rain-affected 11-lap sprint race at the F1 Belgian Grand Prix.
Lewis Hamilton was hampered by a five-second time penalty.
29 Jul 2023
16:43
Twelve lap race
Remember the sprint race was due to be 15 laps in total but, deducting the formation laps behind the Safety Car, will now be 12 laps.
16:41
Safety Car still out
A second lap begins behind the Safety Car.
Verstappen's engineer tells him that the Safety Car is expected to do four laps.
16:35
Formation lap begins
The Safety Car is leading the way.
16:33
Starting grid
1) Max Verstappen
2) Oscar Piastri
3) Carlos Sainz
4) Charles Leclerc
5) Lando Norris
6) Pierre Gasly
7) Lewis Hamilton
8) Sergio Perez
9) Esteban Ocon
10) George Russell
11) Daniel Ricciardo
12) Logan Sargeant
13) Fernando Alonso
14) Alex Albon
15) Lance Stroll
16) Yuki Tsunoda
17) Valtteri Bottas
18) Kevin Magnussen
19) Zhou Guanyu
20) Nico Hulkenberg
16:30
Scenes over the past hour
Delayed Sprint start due to rain. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 13,…
Circuit atmosphere - fans in the rain. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 13…
16:29
Safety Car start
Sprint race will begin behind a Safety Car, using wet weather tyres.
16:24
Clearing the track
Standing water is currently being cleared.
16:22
New time set
4.35pm UK is set for the formation lap!
16:17
Merc drivers have gone for a walk
Hamilton and Russell have both nipped out of their cars to stretch their legs. No word yet on when we'll start the sprint race.
16:13
Further delay
4.12pm UK has come and gone, and we're no closer to starting the race.
16:10
A rule to remember
There must be at least two laps under green flag conditions for the points to count.
16:06
Ted Kravitz
"It's absolutely chucking it down! It feels like it's in the middle of a thunderstorm!"
16:05
New time confirmed
Formation lap to begin at 4.12pm UK.
16:01
Delayed start
We've just heard that the start of the sprint race has been pushed back due to rain!
15:59
Five minutes to go
Sprint race starts at 4.05pm UK.
15:53
Daniel Ricciardo
"I feel rain already, I know it's coming!"
Daniel Ricciardo (AUS) AlphaTauri. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 13,…
15:48
Christian Horner
"I'm looking at Anthony Davidson's hair, trying to work out if it's raining or if it's hair gel!"
15:37
Rain incoming?
A shower is due in 30 minutes...
15:35
What is an F1 sprint race?
It’s a shortened race, on a Saturday, ahead of the full-length grand prix on a Sunday. A sprint race is a 100km dash to the finish without pit stops.
15:34
How many points are at stake?
P1 - eight points
P2 - seven points
P3 - six points
P4 - five points
P5 - four points
P6 - three points
P7 - two points
P8 - one point
15:29
Hamilton's frustration
Lewis Hamilton and George Russell scuppered each other's sprint shootout earlier today - above is Hamilton's reaction.
Lewis Hamilton (GBR) Mercedes AMG F1 W14. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd…
15:27
Starting grid for F1 Belgian Grand Prix sprint race
1) Max Verstappen
2) Oscar Piastri
3) Carlos Sainz
4) Charles Leclerc
5) Lando Norris
6) Pierre Gasly
7) Lewis Hamilton
8) Sergio Perez
9) Esteban Ocon
10) George Russell
11) Daniel Ricciardo
12) Logan Sargeant
13) Fernando Alonso
14) Alex Albon
15) Lance Stroll
16) Yuki Tsunoda
17) Valtteri Bottas
18) Kevin Magnussen
19) Zhou Guanyu
20) Nico Hulkenberg
15:26
Sprint race delayed start
The sprint race starts at 4.05pm UK time due to the delayed sprint shootout earlier.
12:25
It's Verstappen on top!
Just 0.011s between him and Piastri.
Top 10: Verstappen, Piastri, Sainz, Leclerc, Norris, Gasly, Hamilton, Perez, Ocon and Russell.